Human rights logo

Is it some kind of peace dove? Or an unconventional rendering of a hand? Several layers of symbolism come together in the blue human rights logo.

With its “Logo for Human Rights” initiative, Germany’s Foreign Office wanted to find a way of connecting the world’s 7 billion people across borders: through their right to human dignity.

The logo is intended to be universal. It is to raise awareness of human rights violations and give those who champion human rights a strong voice. This voice speaks, not with words, but with symbols that know no language barriers.

As part of the initiative, people from 190 countries sent in over 15,000 logo designs to be evaluated by an international jury. The panel consisted of human rights activists such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Ai Weiwei, Mikhail Gorbachev and Jimmy Carter, who selected the 10 best designs. The Internet community then voted, and the winning logo by Predrag Stakic of Serbia was unveiled in New York in September 2011.

The logo can be used without licensing by anyone protecting and defending human rights. Spread the symbol!